In Shakespeare's `a Merchant of Venice', conflict is a major theme that can be seen throughout the play in the main plot and every subplot. It is evident on a personal level, such as between Shylock and Antonio or Shylock and Jessica, and on a larger scale, such as between the Jewish and Christian communities in Venice. The most evident conflict in this play is between the protagonist and the antagonist, Antonio and Shylock respectively, but can be seen to epitomise and emphasise the ongoing conflict in beliefs between the Christians and Jews. For this reason, this particular conflict shall be explored in this essay.

The conflict can be seen from as early as Act 1 Scene 3 when we are made aware of Antonio's treatment of Shylock. We are told that he called the Jew `misbeliever', `cut-throat dog' and spat on his `Jewish...